We’re continuing my conversation with Dina H. Sherif, talking about the shift from aid to agency, AI and regulation, and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy.

Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship since 2019. You can catch the first part of our conversation in your podcast app or on our website.

I’ll be back next week with an Encore episode with founder of 1984 Ventures, Ramy Adeeb on everything he’s been up to since 2023.

This episode is brought to you by:

• EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!
• Azza Fahmy Jewellery

Dina is wearing Nizar Qabbani Necklace, Bouquet of Blessings Earrings and the Filigree Kaf Ring.

• (00:00) - Coming up
• (01:16) - From aid to agency
• (11:17) - The importance of entrepreneurship
• (14:35) - The sovereignty question of AI
• (23:08) - The Case for Regional Unity

I’m joined by Dina H. Sherif about entrepreneurship and ecosystem building in growth markets. Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship since 2019. She also talks about her own entrepreneurship journey with Ahead of the Curve, and her personal experiences with loss.

We’ll continue the conversation in Part 2 about the shift from aid to agency, AI and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy.

This episode is brought to you by:

• EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!
• Azza Fahmy Jewellery

Dina is wearing Nizar Qabbani Necklace, Bouquet of Blessings Earrings
and the Filigree Kaf Ring.

• (00:00) - Coming up
• (10:03) - Focus on growth markets
• (12:32) - Egypt’s entrepreneurial future
• (16:07) - Dina’s entrepreneurial journey
• (23:25) - Adult Bullying at Harvard
• (26:48) - Dealing with loss & illness
• (34:22) - The Lightning Round

Today’s episode is a deep-dive with our sponsor, EFG Holding. As a long-time sponsor of the show, EFG have been with us from our single digit episode count all the way through to 100! I’m joined on this special episode by Hanaa Helmy, Chief Corporate Sustainability and Impact Officer at EFG Holding and CEO of the EFG Foundation. Hanaa has been with the company 19 years, and has been involved with the Foundatoin right from its launch in 2006. She has also been recognised by Forbes Middle East as one the region’s Top Sustainability Leaders in both 2024 and 2025.

This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!